Bistable saturation in coupled quantum dots for quantum cellular automata

Abstract

A simple model quantum dot cell containing two electrons is analyzed as a candidate for quantum cellular automata implementations. The cell has eigenstates whose charge density is strongly aligned along one of two directions. In the presence of the electrostatic perturbation due to a neighboring cell, the ground state is nearly completely aligned (polarized) in one direction only. The polarization is a highly nonlinear function of the perturbing electrostatic fields and shows the strong bistable saturation important for cellular automation function.